The Warriors were fired up for Monday night’s Class 2A Regional Volleyball Tournament match in Calmar against Nashua-Plainfield. South Winn took care of business, beating the Huskies in three consecutive sets to advance to the Region 6 semifinal round. (Zakary Kriener photo)

SW VB takes care of business at home

The South Winneshiek volleyball team put on one last show for the Warrior faithful as it hosted its final home action of the 2017 season. However, while the home gym action may be wrapped, the Warrior season is far from it, thanks to a 3-0 shutout over Nashua-Plainfield in Monday night’s Class 2A Region 6 Tournament tilt.

While the final score may not reflect it, the play on the court was competitive all night as South Winn claimed wins, 26-24, 26-24, and 25-18.

South Winn running back Rodney Schwartzhoff was able to run around, over, and – when needed – through the Belmond-Klemme defense Friday night as he eclipsed 228 rushing yards on the night. The effort was good enough to move him into the top spot in South Winn’s all-time leading rushing category as the senior is up to 3,629 yards over his career. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Warriors notch 'statement win' over B-K

The Warriors traveled to Belmond-Klemme Friday night, knowing they would need to be on top of their game with the District 2 runner-up spot and an automatic playoff berth on the line.

South Winn had a rough start to the 2017 football season, going 0-3 in its first three games. Since then, however, the Warriors had put together a string of five straight wins to remain alive in the playoff picture.

With the No. 9-ranked Belmond-Klemme Broncos the only remaining hurdle between the Warriors and a seventh straight postseason appearance, the goal was simple for the squad: win.

Kory Cook of Ossian was recently recognized for his excellent customer service by earning the “Installer Technician of the Year” award by Mediacom. The local Mediacom employee of two years is a broadband specialist III for the fifth-largest cable operator in the United States. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Cook named top 'Installer Technician'

Local Mediacom employee Kory Cook of Ossian was awarded a top customer service award by the company at an awards ceremony held recently in Cedar Rapids.

Cook was named the region’s “Installer Technician of the Year” by the information, communications, and entertainment services provider that serves nearly 1.4 million customers in the Midwest and Southeast.

“I was shocked to find out that I was getting an award,” acknowledged Cook, who has worked out of Decorah’s Mediacom branch for 2½ years. “My supervisor told me that I was going to Cedar Rapids a few weeks ago to do service calls, but I eventually caught drift of what the real reason for the trip was.”

For 10 years Luann Alber has helped her husband, Jeff, run Brick City Bar and Grill in Clermont. Under her guidance and supervision, she has helped turn the local restaurant into a destination eating establishment. While she doesn’t consider herself a businesswoman, her fortitude and savvy have helped the business remain profitable. Chris DeBack photo

Alber's business savvy helps Brick City thrive

For the last 10 years, Luann Alber has helped turn Brick City Bar and Grill into a destination restaurant in Clermont.

With the month of October designated as Women in Business Month, let's get to know the fearless co-leader of the local eating establishment.

Alber grew up in Gunder and was a 1973 Valley High School graduate. She met her husband, Jeff, while working at a factory in West Union. The couple were married in 1977.

Jeff originally wanted to buy Brick City when Jack and Gen McNeil had it for sale, but Luann refused, telling Jeff she didn’t want her kids to grow up in a bar.

Jeff went on to start Super Landscaping, located in West Union, and he recently purchased the West Union Events Center, but he always had an itch for opening a restaurant.

“I married my father, basically,” she recalled. “Jeff was just like my dad; he just works, works, and works. It was the way we were brought up.”

Ten years ago, Jeff got to scratch that itch when he was approached to purchase Brick City. Two women, whose names Luann can’t remember, told Jeff that if he bought it, they would manage it for him.

While Luann wasn’t at the restaurant much when it first opened, Jeff’s partnership with the two women didn’t last long. Just six months into ownership, Luann found herself helping out at the restaurant. That eventually grew into her helping manage the place.

West Central senior Kenzie Squires scores a kill during the first set of a 3-1 loss to the North Butler Bearcats on Tuesday, Oct. 17, in the first round of the Class 1A Region 5 Tournament in Greene. The Blue Devils finished the year with a 10-21 record. Chris DeBack photo

Bearcats top West Central in Regional first round

The West Central volleyball team’s season came to an end at the hands of North Butler, 3-1, in the Class 1A Region 5 Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 17, in Greene.

The Blue Devils came into the matchup 10-20. It is the first time the team’s record has reached double-digit wins since it finished the 2011-2012 season 13-13. The Bearcats, who play in the Top of Iowa Conference, entered the matchup with a 15-16 record.

While on paper, the Bearcats had a decided advantage, especially in height, the Blue Devils came in relaxed, composed, and ready for action.